Birks, William (1829-1901)

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1880

Early Years

William was born on 29 November 1829 at Tideswell, Derbyshire.

William’s family moved to Marple when he was young. He attended a Wesleyan Sunday School, but it was through Primitive Methodists that he was converted in 1842. William moved to Stockport and, for several years, he was a Sunday School teacher and the Secretary of a Missionary and Revival Band. He became a class leader and local preacher.

Ministry

His obituary records that he was a careful, peaceful, plodding circuit preacher; a diligent, devout and faithful pastor; attentive to family visitation; and always eager to win the affection of the young.

Family

William married Jenifer Ann Renfry on 25 December 1856 at Liskeard, Cornwall. Census returns identify five children.

Madeline Matilda Birks (b1859)
William Antliff Orlando (b1862) – superintendent in assurance company (1891)
Frederick George (1866-1936)
Samuel Antliff Wesley (1870-1928) – a schoolmaster
Jenifer Ann Birks (1877-1962) – a nurse

William died on 19 August 1901 at Stockport, Cheshire.

Circuits

1852 St Austell
1854 Bridgewater
1855 Gravesend & Aveley
1857 Hammersmith
1858 Ramsgate
1859 Bradford
1861 Halifax
1862 Leighton Buzzard
1865 High Wycombe
1867 Bedford
1870 Belfast
1872 Tamworth
1874 Rugby
1876 Clitheroe
1878 Helmshore
1880 Bolton ll
1881 Skelmersdale
1883 Pocklington
1885 Peterborough
1888 Newark
1891 Motherwell
1893 Stockport (S)

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1880 (portrait)

PM Minutes 1902/7

W Leary , Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits , 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Author

Geoff Dickinson

Page added

20/04/2013

Comments about this page

I am the great great grandson of the Rev. William. I came across this today by accident, so a very pleasant surprise. Frederick George was my great grandfather. The family remained/returned to Northern Ireland following his time in Belfast. Well done for your efforts.
By Andrew Murphy (23/04/2019)
Birks was a name associated with Ashover and related areas of Derbyshire. There may well have been a distant relationship between the two men – but they were certainly not directly related. (William Birks b1843) was my great grandfather and I have done considerable research on his family.
By J Crossland (15/09/2014)
Is William Birks related to Reverend William Birks (b.1843 in Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire) who was a Unitarian Minister. His father was William Birks (b. abt 1806 in Ashover, Derbyshire) also a Unitarian Minister?
By Bob (21/08/2014)
Bob,
Thanks for your question.
I have seen no evidence in my brief family history search to suggest any relationship between the two.
By Geoff Dickinson (21/08/2014)